Friday, February 3, 2012 Bohemian Waxwings and sparrows

Seward, Alaska Sporadic Bird Report

Weather: Temps back down to the mid 20s, freezing all the temporary lakes and ponds in the roads. A blinding ground blizzard and wet snow squalls lashed out all morning, but the tantrum was spent by mid afternoon. The wind died down, the seas calmed and the sun actually came out.

Aaron L spotted two BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS at Lowell Point, apparently the only ones around. Not much left for them to eat, unless they find rose hips as the Mt Ash berries are long gone. We watched a very efficient BALD EAGLE adult rip into a freshly caught, organic seabird; hard to ID at that stage of dismemberment, but it was thoroughly enjoyed by the enthusiastic diner.

RED-NECKED and HORNED GREBES, BARROW'S GOLDENEYES, and a small pod of Steller sea lions patrolled the beach. MALLARDS worked the rocky tidelands while others dined at the sewage lagoon with COMMON GOLDENEYES. Back along the road, a YELLOW-BILLED LOON stretched just off-shore, beyond were many COMMON MURRES, including several flying up the bay.

A feeder in town hosted a SONG SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, DARK-EYED JUNCOS, and OREGON JUNCOS, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCHES, PINE GROSBEAKS, COMMON REDPOLLS, and the aggressive STELLER'S JAYS. A beautiful VARIED THRUSH glowed orange in the bare cottonwood branches while a DOWNY WOODPECKER called nearby. All seemed to be celebrating the serene afternoon after such wild weather the past few days.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter